Kristi Noem’s delay in addressing the flood crisis in Texas apparently was due to her newly established rule whereby any expense over $100,000 had to meet her written approval. This resulted in delayed search and rescue, delayed aerial imaging, and call center understaffing.
However, Ms. Noem herself, as a partner in her family farm and ranch, received (as a group incorporated partnership) a total of $4,910,179 during the 29 years from 1995 to 2024. That’s four million, nine hundred ten thousand, one hundred seventy-nine taxpayer-funded dollars. (Source: Environmental Working Group, USDA subsidy information for Racota Valley Ranch in South Dakota.) That’s an average of $169 316 per year to apparently help the farm/ranch to be more competitive in the world market. But when she has to prioritize helping the helpless, she really dropped the ball.
Kristi Noem has, as a governor, often ruled as an outlier, such as letting the Sturgis Motorcycle event go on in the middle of COVID. As a result of that event, more COVID was spread, causing congestion in area hospitals where the participants were from.
FEMA very well might be on the chopping block, as are other federal government agencies in the present administration. Medicaid, SNAP, and winter fuel assistance are all receiving budget slashes to balance the tax relief given to the wealthy. The constitution is virtually being re-written by executive activism, especially negating the part about admonishing the federal government to see to “the general welfare” of the populace. However, in the meantime, it is OK to get a tax break if you are wealthy, and agricultural subsidies if you are a highly paid employee of the federal government.
Mark Roalson
Hoyt Lakes